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Monday, January 21, 2013

DO YOU TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY?

I met Carol when she moved in next door and we became fast friends. Carol was fun, she was gorgeous and ambitious. She was successful at everything she set her mind to. Little did I know when she moved in that she was going to introduce me to my new career. Carol had a Medical Transcription home based business and before long she had enlisted me to take classes and help her out so she could grow her business. With her as my mentor I was able to start my own business and did very well though I marveled at how she was able to get the best clients and make top dollar year after year.

After years of doing this Carol wanted a change and decided she was going to start selling candles at home parties. I was dumbfounded that she would give up such a lucrative business to do home parties! But before too long Carol was again top producer with a record number of sales people under her. She received bonuses, earned free trips and was again making lots of money. How did she do this?

I recently shared my story of how I was always putting everyone and everything before myself or my business. A phone call or request to do something else would easily side track me from my intended goals for the day. Carol's story is different. I'd like to share what Carol did that put her at the top of her field. Carol took her desire for accomplishment seriously and this is how she showed it:

She set up a beautiful and professional office in her home with all the latest electronic equipment and office supplies. She even bought a state-of-the-art office chair!

She set office hours and made sure family, friends and neighbors knew what those were.

She dressed for success - no working in her pj's.

She continued her education by taking classes, seminars, buying books in her field. She was not adverse to spending money as long as it meant it was furthering her goals.

She always asked for the sale. I hosted my first-ever home party for her because she asked!

Follow-up, follow-up. When it was "time" for me to host another party she would call to set the date.

She had a mentor. In each of her businesses she had someone who could guide her through her field and promote her within it.

She was passionate about what she did. She had no problem talking about her product and her business and could enthuse others with her passion.

Accomplishment is hard and on some level can be pretty selfish. To really devote yourself to achieving something, becoming an artist, an entrepreneur, a writer, or selling candles, you have to really want it, have a vision of what you want and throw your whole weight behind it.

When you take yourself seriously and are passionate about what you do you will find others that share your passion. When you do, you will find your community and that can be the greatest feeling in the world.